Men: Get Out of the Footwear Fashion Ruts If You Want to Impress

When it comes to fashion advice for men, hints and tips are rare. We believe that the most important feature of men's fashion is the shoes. The reason for this is clear, shoes make the outfit, if you choose the wrong pair of shoes, then you risk looking more 'fashion miss' than 'fashion hit'. Indeed, you can buy the most expensive clothing, consult the leading fashion designers, and buy clothes from exclusive fashion houses, but if you pair these outfits with the wrong style of shoes, then your overall appearance will be compromised. Here, we consider the issue of men's shoes, in order to help you to make the right decision when it comes to this tricky area of fashion.

Shoes are easily overlooked as part of fashion considerations, many men neglect this area of fashion, but they do so at their peril. People, particularly women, tend to notice the shoes another person is wearing, so make sure that you get this right if you want to impress.

The vast majority of men become stuck in fashion ruts. They tend only to stick to styles and colours with which they are familiar. One thing that many men do is only wear black shoes. To a degree, this is reasonable; after all, black goes with everything. However, what happens when you want to step out for summer, in a pair of shorts and a casual tee? Wearing a pair of black shoes will look too formal; rather you need to opt for a more relaxed shoe, such as a loafer in a brown colour, or a pair of boat shoes. If you find you are stuck in the 'black shoe rut', then experiment with other colours; begin small if you are very uncomfortable. For example, if you always wear black military boots, opt for a pair of brown caterpillar boots instead. Brown, like black, is difficult to get wrong, but it will create a more unique and fashionable twist to your wardrobe.

Another problem that men have regarding footwear fashions is that they buy into some of the old myths, such as 'always match the belt with the shoes'. This rule is fine, if you were born in the 1920s, but for those of you who wish to update your fashion sense to bring it more in line with contemporary society, then be a little bold and select shoes in a slightly different style to your belts, or select a belt that has a funky design. For instance, you can team military boots with a retro style belt, rather than a military belt, to create an unusual, but very workable twist. This will create a focal point to your outfit and people will admire your style.

Informal situations provide the perfect opportunity to experiment with different styles. Change the style of your casual shoes to create a more fashionable look. For instance, if you are never without your trusty pair of trainers, swap them for boat shoes. Boat shoes are equally comfortable, and are probably the closest match to sports shoes, but they add a touch of sophistication that will create the illusion that you are very knowledgeable regarding fashions.